Greece & The Ionian Sea with Explora Journeys

Day 1 | Embarkation in Athens

Your journey begins in Athens, where ancient grandeur and modern energy combine in the most compelling of ways. A private transfer delivers you to Piraeus, Athens' ancient port, where you step aboard Explora Journeys, your elegant home for the week ahead. Settle into your suite, explore the ship at leisure and, as the lights of Athens shimmer on the water, raise a glass to the extraordinary voyage that lies ahead.

Day 2 | A Day at Sea

There is something quietly restorative about a day with nothing on the horizon but open water. Life aboard Explora Journeys is unhurried by design. Against a backdrop of endless blue, you might find yourself drawn to the spa, gathering around the table for an exceptional meal, or simply settling into a sun lounger with a good book and nowhere else to be.

Day 3 | Brindisi, Italy

Brindisi is the gateway to one of Italy's most beguiling regions. The historic centre is layered with centuries of story, from Roman remnants to echoes of Spartacus, whilst the surrounding Puglian countryside unfolds in a patchwork of olive groves and terracotta rooftops. Head to Ostuni, that dazzling hill town of whitewashed streets, or to Lecce, the so called Florence of the South, where exuberant Baroque architecture lines every piazza. For something extraordinary, seek out the trulli of Alberobello, those ancient conical stone dwellings recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Do not leave without trying orecchiette pasta and squid ink gnocchi.

Day 4 | Nydri, Lefkada

Linked to the Greek mainland by a slender causeway, Lefkada is an island of quite exceptional beauty, with mountains draped in ancient olive groves and a coastline lapped by water of the most extraordinary blue. Your ship calls at Nydri on the island's eastern shore, where a wide natural harbour opens onto a scattering of small islands. Stroll the lively marina, take lunch at a waterside taverna and, if energy permits, follow the trail up through the hills to the Nydri waterfalls, where cool pools await at the foot of the cascade.

Day 5 | Pylos

Pylos is the sort of place that asks very little of you and gives an enormous amount in return. Curled around the sheltered waters of Navarino Bay, this quietly elegant town in the southern Peloponnese moves at its own unhurried pace. Once the domain of Nestor, the wise king of Homeric legend, history lingers pleasantly in the air. Settle beneath the plane trees in the central square, climb to the hilltop fortress for views across sapphire waters, or explore the extraordinary coastal landscape nearby, where undisturbed dunes and shallow lagoons shelter an ecosystem of rare beauty.

Day 6 | Amorgos

Remote, rugged and entirely enchanting, Amorgos is the Aegean at its most authentic. Your ship arrives at Katapola, a perfectly formed port where whitewashed buildings tumble down to the waterfront and fishermen gather with glasses of raki. The air is scented with citrus and wild thyme, the sea an almost implausible shade of blue. Paths wind between sleepy Cycladic villages and ancient ruins, with wild goats for company at every turn. As the afternoon light softens, make your way up to Chora to watch one of the most beautiful sunsets in the Aegean.

Day 7 | Mykonos

The secret to Mykonos is arriving early. Before the day gathers pace, the labyrinthine streets of Little Venice belong almost entirely to you. Wander through whitewashed alleyways, past Orthodox churches, windmills and beautifully curated boutiques. Join fellow guests at elegant beach clubs and, when the heat of the afternoon prompts a change of scene, take the short boat crossing to the sacred island of Delos, one of the most important archaeological sites in the Greek world. Return to Mykonos for dinner in Chora, before the night takes on a life entirely its own.

Day 8 | Disembarkation in Athens and Transfer to the Dolli Hotel

Your voyage draws to a close as the ship returns to Athens. Your Scott Dunn team will handle every detail of your disembarkation and transfer, leaving you free to settle into the elegant Dolli Hotel. Perfectly positioned in the heart of the city, it is a warm and characterful base from which to spend your final days. Perhaps take a late lunch on the terrace or simply enjoy the rare pleasure of an afternoon with no itinerary at all.

Day 9 | Athens and a Visit to the Acropolis

  No visit to Athens is ever truly complete without time spent on the Acropolis, and a dedicated day to explore this extraordinary site properly is one of the great privileges of travel. Accompanied by your Scott Dunn guide, you will walk in the footsteps of the ancient Athenians, past the monumental Propylaea gateway and up to the Parthenon itself, whose presence is as commanding and moving in person as any photograph could suggest. Take time too for the remarkable Acropolis Museum, where the sculptural treasures of the ancient city are displayed with great intelligence and beauty. Afterwards, the afternoon is entirely your own. Perhaps a long lunch in a neighbourhood taverna in Monastiraki, an hour or two browsing the antique shops of Avissinias Square, or simply a cold drink in the shade with the city spread out below you.

Day 10 | Farewell to Athens  

After breakfast, your Scott Dunn team will arrange your private transfer to the airport in good time for your flight home. We hope you return with memories that will last a very long time, and perhaps already with the beginnings of an idea about where to go next.